Cornell Farm Services field assistant Richard Russell fuels a tractor with biodiesel.
In an effort to investigate non-traditional fuel sources and reduce air pollution emissions, Cornell has begun to explore alternative fuel vehicles.
Biodiesel in the Fleets
As part of a cooperative agreement with TCAT, the Ithaca City School District, the Tompkins County Dept. of Planning & Public Works, and several other local entities, Cornell Facilities is making the switch to B5 biodiesel in its fleets. Starting in August 2007, all of the major campus fleets - mail trucks, Grounds vehicles, Campus Life vans, etc. - will have the option of running on this cleaner-burning fuel.
Biodiesel can be purchased in New York through the state contract as a 5 percent or 20 percent blend. At this time, the 5 percent blend is easier to incorporate because it does not require separate or new storage tanks, is not cold-sensitive, and – unlike 100 percent biofuel – does not require engine conversion. B5 is a comfortable and safe way to start the transition to renewable fuels.
Cornell Farm Services has been running a successful pilot project with B20 in all their vehicles since the summer of 2006 and plans to continue using the fuel in years to come. This pilot project paved the way for greater biodiesel use in the community.
Electric Vehicles
As part of a larger strategy to explore alternative transportation options, Cornell's Transportation and Mail Services department has begun using zero-emission electric vehicles for certain on-campus uses.
Transportation Services Representatives use GEM e2 vehicles to move about campus
After evaluating several different vehicle types, in 2002 Cornell purchased 7 GEM e2 electric vehicles. In addition to their environmentally friendly attributes, including the reduction of local air pollution, the GEM's were chosen for their automotive-like safety and convenience features. GEM's are licensed as "limited use autos" and can legally operate on any public roadway posted at 35 mph or less. The GEM can travel up to 30 miles between charges and has the ability to recharge its batteries via "regenerative braking" when decelerating. The onboard charger allows the vehicle to be conveniently plugged into any 110-volt outlet. Additionally, their small footprint reduces campus-parking congestion.
To extend their seasonal use, several of Cornell's GEM's were fitted with optional doors and heater/defroster units. Environmental Health and Safety, Commuter and Parking Services, and Planning Design and Construction use them around campus. The Statler Hotel also uses them as courtesy vehicles. As of 2005, there are 10 GEM's in service.
The base price for a GEM e2 is $6995 plus options. Requiring only 7.2kwH or less to fully recharge, the vehicles have proven economical to operate. Although they have only been in use for a short period of time, it is already looking like there will be significant savings in maintenance costs as well.
Natural Gas Vehicles
The Natural Gas Vehicles program, an initiative of the Transportation and Mail Services' Department, is a historical example of an experiment in alternative fuels. In this pilot project, a portion of Cornell's mail truck and delivery vehicle fleet was converted to operate on compressed natural gas (CNG).
The project began in 1995 when the university began working closely with NYSEG's Tech Center to convert a portion of their mail fleet to bi-fuel natural gas vehicles, and to install natural gas refueling stations. Three G-30 mail delivery trucks were converted to operate on CNG.
Natural gas was chosen as an alternative fuel due to its relative abundance in North America, clean burning properties, and well-established distribution network. Transportation and Mail Services opted to convert to a bi-fuel system, using compressed natural gas as the primary fuel source, and gasoline as a back up. Transportation and Mail services also purchased and installed three FuelMaker pumps, at the cost of $3600 each, to re-fuel the NGVs.
While the project met with difficulties - mainly increased filling time - and ultimately ended up being unsuccessful it represents the kind of experimental approach that is necessary to learn about the options for alternative fuels and find new and workable solutions.
In purchasing nontraditional fuel and vehicles, Cornell is exploring the economic and life cycle advantages of potential fuel replacements. Alternative fuel vehicles are just one part of the university's efforts to reduce pollution and maximize resources.
For more information, check out the web sites in the sidebar and articles listed below, or E-mail Greg Kilmer, Assistant Director for Mail and Special Transportation Services, at gbk3@cornell.edu.
Related Articles:
CU and local transportation officials adopt biodiesel fuel
1/19/07 Source: Cornell Chronicle
